YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME

 
The sun creeping through the drapes finally got a direct hit in her eyes, causing her to roll over onto her side, facing the nightstand. It took a moment for her head to clear. There was the candle, burned down to a nub, and a few pieces of bread. Dantien must have brought it in while she was asleep. Sleep- she hadn’t slept so soundly in ages. Certainly not on that horrid boat ride back to Greece…
“Poison berries and peppermint tea. Perfect combination for a good night’s rest. I’ll have to remember that.” She made a face as she spoke. She got up gingerly, then breathed a sigh of relief that her illness truly seemed to be gone. She crinkled her nose and lifted the shift up to her face. That smell. Today it did smell good. She would have to ask Dantien what it was that she wore.
Dantien. She would have to ask Gareth about Dantien.
But first….she went to gather her outfit but saw that it was still damp from where she’d scrubbed it the night before.
“Just great. I can’t exactly go running around in this thing, no matter how good I smell.” She paused in thought for a moment, then clicked her fingers.

She knocked on Dantien’s door softly, calling her name. After a moment, the door opened and Gabrielle stepped back in surprise. The bright sunlight shone on a tanned face that would have been beautiful, if not for a large bruise over her left eye.
“What happened to your eye?” Gabrielle reached out instinctively to touch the wound but Dantien gently caught her hand and put it down.
“It’s been that way. You were too sick to notice it last night, that’s all. Poor lighting does wonders for beauty, doesn’t it?”
“I’ve always thought so. I hate to bother you...” she noticed she wasn’t being invited in “but could I possibly borrow something I could wear outside the bedroom?”
Dantien gave her a funny smile and opened the door wider. “See this shift? I have nothing else to wear but nightclothes. They’ve taken everything else. You see, I’m not expected to leave this room.”
“Oh.” So she must be some sort of prisoner….she had to see Gareth about this woman.
“Gabrielle, I doubt I will see you anymore after you’ve had an audience with the King. But I did enjoy your company. You can keep the shift- consider it a gift.” she squeezed Gabrielle’s hand and went to close the door, but Gabrielle stuck out her foot.
“Wait. Why wouldn’t I see you again?”
“The King will forbid it, I’m sure.”
Gabrielle smiled. “Well, we’ll see about that. I can be pretty persuasive if need be.”
“I’m not surprised. You got me to be nice to that two-legged rat last night.”
“She’s not a rat!”
“Just pull up her skirt and you’ll see the tail.” Dantien winked at Gabrielle. Gabrielle opened her mouth to reply but was silent as there was a sudden scurry of footsteps on the stairs.
“You’d better go. Goodbye Gabrielle.”
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